THE FINAL 24 - TUPAC SHAKUR

Tech-head, Stewart Alsop, once said “A dying man needs to
die, as a sleepy man needs to sleep. And there comes a time when it is wrong,
as well as useless to resist”. But do you think that the case for musician, Tupac
Shakur, once his last breath finally came? Why don’t you have a look at this
47-minute documentary made in 2010, to find out more?

This installment of ‘Final 24’, chronicles the highs and the
lows of fabled ‘Gangster Rapper’, Tupac Shakur. Now to help the feature tell this
tale, on display, are a number of archival video clips, audio inserts, stock
photography, plus numerous pre-recorded interviews, involving family, friends,
musicians, and employees alike.

Here is a basic run down on what this show has on offer:

BLACK BEGININGS:Tupac
Amaru Shakur had a very tough childhood. His Mother was a drug addict and
a convicted felon associated with the Black Panther movement. Plus his
father was nowhere to be seen. Still, thanks to him being enrolled into
the Baltimore school for the
performing arts, Tupac found some direction in his life, though his love
for rap music and other artistic pursuits.

RISE OF THE RAPPER: Tupac rise to
fame was a somewhat linier and laborious one. Initially, he honed his
talent for rap music, by jumping into the fore, with friend, Jay Luv. Next,
he honed his art as a performer, by becoming a member of the ‘Digital
Underground’. And finally, he managed to seal for himself a record
contract, with record producer, Atron Gregory.

A THUGS LIFE: Even though he welcomed his
sober and drug-free mother, Afeni, back into his life again, Tupac’s
‘Gangster Rapper’ image took a hold of him, and made him do a number of
disreputable things. He started a verbal war with one time friendly fellow rapper, Biggie
Smalls. He had numerous encounters with the law for violence and drug
abuse. And he was even convinced and sent to prison for touching a girls
ass. Please note, in addition to this, Tupac was also shot and injured as
retaliation for some of these misdemeanors.

DEATH ROW: Suge Knight, owner of Death Row
records, managed to arrange for Tupac early release from prison, and in so
doing, took him under his wing as a solo artist. However, this union was
not a fortuitous one for Tupac – as Suge was affiliated with the Mob
Piru’s, which is a gangster sect from Compton,
Los Angeles.

THE LAST DAY: The last days of Tupac Shakur
reads as follows: (5) Tupac, his niece, his girlfriend, and his bodyguard,
all drive to Los Angeles, so that he can initially watch a Mike Tyson
fight, and then perform on stage at a club afterwards. (4) Once checked
in, Tupac sends his niece and his girlfriend to the hotel room upstairs,
so that he can gamble at the casino below the hotel. (3) After watching Mike
Tyson win his fight, Tupac then involves himself with beating up a member
of a rival gang, opposed to Suge’s affiliation. (2) Tupac and co., all
alight for as short while, before they all then drive off together for his
performance at the club. And (1) Tupac is gunned down whilst still in his
car – he dies a couple of days later.

THE REVIEW:

Now before I commence my review on ‘Tupac Shakur – the Final
24’, please let me just say, that I have watched the Nick Broomfield
documentary about this musician’s life and death (click here for review), plus
in addition to this, other noted sources associated with him as well. However,
unlike this feature, I have never seen Tupac’s mother, Afeni, interviewed
previously, or seen a documentary that was more focused on what Tupac was all
about either.

Personally speaking, this latter factor does make this
program ‘special’ in a certain light. Not better or worse - special - because
it is able to give you a very clear impression, on whom Tupac was prior to being famous. Moreover, I
have to say that I liked most of the interviews on show as well, especially:

Afeni Shakur: Tupac’s Mother,
Afeni, has always been portrayed as the ‘drug addict Mum’, who was more
concerned about the ‘Black Panther movement’, than she was about her
children’s well being. Still, now
that I have heard her speak myself, and can see how open she is about her
‘past failures’, I just cannot help but admire Afeni for her perseverance
in the face of adversity. After watching this program, I think of Afeni as
a woman who has had a full and hard life – bless her for her sins.

Jay Luv: Jay, like Afeni before
him, has always been talked about in other programs, and never really seen – thus
implying that he has something to hide. Though, my impression of Jay, is
that of a man who has had a long and varied existence. Plus on top of that, he is very astute and aware of how life has a course of action and
counter-action – as noted in his words about Tupac’s conflicts.

Frank Alexander: Now Frank was in
the Nick Broomfield documentary that I mentioned previously in this
review. And, like before, appears like a ‘friendly giant’, who is still
guarded about certain facts relating to Tupac’s eminent disassociation
from ‘Death Row’. Maybe because of Suge Knight?

Jamala Lesane: Jamala, Tupacs
cousin, comes across as a very sweet lady indeed. Thankfully, she has used
Tupac’s death in a very positive way, by promoting his memory for the
benefit of the community – along with Afini, Tupac’s Mother. Also, her recount
on Tupac’s last days and life, is very insightful and honest – making her
resolve very erstwhile all in all.

Overall, I feel that
‘Tupac Shakur – the Final 24’, a very compelling program to watch, and
if it did have a slight drawback, it would be that there were two questions
lefts unanswered by the end of it. Firstly, what were Tupac’s reasons for
leaving ‘Death Row’? And secondly, why wasn't Afeni questioned about this, or
alternatively, why wasn't Suge Knight interviewed?